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List Building Strategy #2 – Create an Opt-in Page

List BuildingAfter making sure you have an opt-in form on every page of your blog, I recommend you start working on a dedicated opt-in page. Create a page with the sole purpose of getting people to sign up for your list. It’s a great way to grow your list quickly because you now have a destination where you can send people. Use it in social media posts, articles, guest blog posts, forum posts, etc.

Easy URL

Start with an easy to remember URL. If you’d like, you can go all out and buy a dedicated domain for your opt-in page, but that’s certainly not necessary. Instead, you can pick a short and easy to remember the link. For example, if your site is called gardenblog.com, a URL for your opt-in page maybe gardenblog.com/signup

Captivating headline

Next, you want to write a compelling headline that will grab your reader’s attention and keep him or her on your opt-in page. Going back to our gardening example, are a few examples of good headlines:

  • Find Out How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes in Half the Time
  • Sign Up Today for Expert Tips from a Gardening Enthusiast
  • Creating a Garden That’s The Envy of the Whole Neighborhood is Easier Than You Think. Sign Up Today for Expert Tips Delivered Straight to Your Email Inbox

Take a look at magazine headlines and other newsletters to get ideas for your opt-in page. Make your offer sound great, but don’t go overboard. You want to make sure you can deliver on the promise you’re making here.

Keep it short

You don’t need a lot of text on your opt-in page. Keep pages short and to the point to outperform those with long paragraphs of text.

Instead, focus on the benefits. What’s in it for your subscribers? What will they get out of signing up?

Start with a short introductory paragraph, and then move on to what’s in it for your readers. List those benefits as bullet points on your opt-in page.

If you’d like, you can also include an image that relates to the topic of your blog. In our gardening example, I may add a picture of a lovely looking tomato plant right next to the benefit statements.

Right below that, include the opt-in form.

I like to close with a sentence or two, letting my readers know that I look forward to sharing those tips with them. If possible, include a picture of yourself and your handwritten signature. Both elements build trust and will make it more likely that someone will sign up.

Submit button

Of course, your page will include a submit button. It’s often a simple grey button with the words “Submit” on it. I recommend using either a color that goes well with your theme or even better, a bright red button. Good options for wording on the button are “Join Now,” “Get Started,” and my personal favorite “Sign Me Up!” If you are using Aweber to create your opt-in form for this page, changing the button can be done right within the web form editor. Otherwise, ask your web designer for help changing this on your opt-in page.

Set up your options page and begin driving traffic to it. You can link to this page from the navigation bar of your blog and from within your posts. You can also use this page in social media posts on popular forums you participate in and any other form of traffic generation.

List Building Strategy #2 – Create an Opt-in PageWhen it comes to building your brand, your website is one of your most powerful tools. Contact Dr. John Elcik at identityXperts to handle all of your web design needs. We can be reached by phone at (561) 543-2892 or email: jelcik@identityXperts.com.